The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-19
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MISSION
AIRY TO SCOTLAND.

AIRY TO SCOTLAND.
To the Executive Board of the Woman's
Centenary Association.
The Scottish missionary left America Feb
ruary ID, 1886, the President of the W. @. A.
| Mrs. M. Louise Thomas, and its first mis-
sionary. Rev. Mrs. @. A. Soule, having been
among the friends who, on the ship, bade
him farewell He reached Liverpool Sunday
evening, February 21, and after two days in
that city, went north to his destination,
reaching the scene of his labors on Wednes-
day, the Oath. He found the cause in Glas-
gov in low condition. Mrs. Soule had cre-
ated and organized st. Pauls church, and
nursed it into vigorous life, and her success
sor, Rev. Marion Orosley, had increased its
force and efficiency, so that at his departure
its prospects we're bright and promising. But
the long delay in filling bis place had caused
a retrograde, SO that when reached the field
| I found very few beside those tried and true
ones who had been with the church from the
beginning. That the retrogression was not
even greater was due to the devoted services
of Mr.. A. W. Smith, who, under great disad-
|
vantages and inconvenience, went from Ed
inburg every Sunday, from Mr.. Crosleys de-
parture to my own arrival, and conducted
worship and held the church together.
The congregations at once began to in
crease, and from first TO last a gradual growth
was apparent. But it soon began to appear
that there were causes at work hindering a
progress that would otherwise have been
made.
| 1. The uncertainties of he future. 1t be-
gan Immediately to be asled if my stay was
to be more than single year; and if the aid
of the W. @. A. was to be continued; and
when, obedient to instructions from the Ex-
ecutive Board, it was Jaasounced that the
| year was to be an experimental one, and that
on its success would the future action of the
| w. O. A. depend, it was at once and all along
evident that many of those in sympathy with
US were disheartened. They would not break
away from old ties and associations, with the
prospect of being 81 left out in the cold' in a
single year. Many who occasionally attend
ed, and others who assured us of sympathy,
declared themselves unwilling to break old
ties without a prospect of permanence in
new ones. This cause prevented valuable
accessions.
2. The lack of church building. The
Scotch love the "kirk." Only faithful few
will consent to worship in any secular place
without tolerable prospect of church.
Gould church building but be assured, the
general impression would prevail that our
cause had come to stay, and the conditions
of confidence in its permanence would thus
be obtained. This would secure large access
sions, and establish the cause in Glasgow.
But the people who attend our meetings are
not financially able to obtain such lot and
building as the needs require, and as long as
these requisites are wanting, the outlook is
not encouraging.
Notwithstanding these hindrancss, the
meetings through the year were hearty, prof
liable and we'll attended. Contributions de-
frayed expenses, amounting to about $3.50.
Many strangers heard expositions of our
faith. large amount of our literature was
scattered. A somewhat extensive acquain-
lance with representative men of other
churches was made, by letter, and personally,
and through the press, and otherwise our
faith was widely advertised in Great Britain.
Two services were held on the last Sunday
in February, and on the Sundays in March
and April, and three Sundays in May. Then
the pulpit was supplied by Mr.. Smith, and
the missionary preached the last two Sun
days of May, in London, by the kind arrange
ment of Rev. Robert Spears, editor of the
Christian Life, warm friend of our cause,
and an outspoken advocate of our faith, both
in the pulpit and in his influential journal,
the Christian Life.
In June but one service was held on each
Sunday, and on July 4. Mrs. Soule having
arrived in Glasgow, she occupied the pulpit
to the great satisfaction of all, and the mis-
sionary availed himself of her presence to
take vacation of several weeks on the con-
tinent, the time during which there should be
no service, to be made up at the years end.
Mrs. Soule filled the pulpit on all the Sundays
of the missionary's absence, except three,
the last two in July and the first in August,
at the holiday season, when, many of the
people being absent, the church was closed.
During his absence the missionary preached
IN London, Aug. %, and resumed his labors
In Glasgow, on Sunday, Sept. 5, with two
services, and continued them twice each Sun
day until Oct. 81, when Mrs. SouIe preached,
while he went to Dundee, and under arrange
ments made by Rsv. David Macrae, addressed
great congregation of LOO, in a radically
Universalist sermon. Mr.. Macrae is not a
professed Universslist, but his teaching is on
our lines, and be is perhaps the most infu-
entail preacher in Scotland.
Except on Sunday. November IA, when
preached twice in Larbert, Mrs. Soule ggain
filling st. Paul's pulpit, offieiated at home
twice each Sunday through November and
December, except on the evening of Deem |
Der 10, when a good layman read DR.. |
Thayer's sermon, "Why 1 am Universal
Isl" and attended q. P. church and took |
notes of an advertised sermon, " Universal
ism the Devils Sin" reviewing it on the fol-